Reichenbach: I Can Make A Lot Of Money

Mike Reichenbach, looking forward to camp, playing . . . and winning, signed three one-year contracts with the Philadelphia Eagles yesterday, assuring Coach Buddy Ryan a middle man and quarterback for his complicated 46 defense.

Reichenbach, 24, ignored striking city workers picketing Veterans Stadium to meet with Patrick Forte, the assistant to General Manager Harry Gamble, and signed the contracts that offer escalating salaries and bonus incentives through the 1988 National Football League season.

"They even threw things at me," the Bethlehem native said of the pickets, "but when the Eagles said they were ready to sign, there was no way I wasn't going to cross the picket line. It's time to play football."

Although terms were not disclosed, unofficial reports list Reichenbach's 1986 salary at $180,000 with a sizeable bonus if he makes the Pro Bowl.

He called them "adequate for everybody. They include individual and team incentives where, if I reach them, I can make a lot of money.

"There's even an unusual incentive if I make All-Pro, and with this defense and Coach Ryan, it can be done. I'm very satisfied."

The incentives reportedly are for a specific number of tackles, sacks, hurries and team statistics.

"He can make an awful lot of money if he makes All-Pro," Forte said.

The former East Stroudsburg University star, who made the team as a free agent in 1984, wasn't satisfied as recently as two weeks ago, however. He even considered staying away from summer camp, something he didn't want to do.

"It was a long drawn out thing mostly between Forte and my agent Lloyd Remick, and while my gut feeling was to not hold out, I would have had to with the offers I was getting," he said.

"But in the last week-and-a-half each side gave a little bit and a lot of progress was made. Once you're given an offer you're satisfied with, you've got to take it. We got together today, straightened out some things and signed."

Forte, too, was pleased. "It's nice to get it over so Mike can concentrate on being the quarterback of the defense," he said. "We've been working feverishly on this one for the last week because it's so important to the Eagles and Reichenbach.

"Now he can help the defense become one of the mainstays of the NFL, and that translates into the Eagles being winners, reaching the playoffs and who knows what else."

Reichenbach, a 235-pound inside linebacker, had 119 tackles last year, third on the team behind Wes Hopkins (136) and Greg Brown (124). He also had three quarterback pressures, defensed 13 passes and forcedtwo fumbles.

He is the first of five free agents who were starters in 1985 to come to terms with the beginning of training camp only 15 days away. Still without contracts are quarterback Ron Jaworski, tight end John Spagnola of Bethlehem, defensive tackle Ken Clarke and cornerback Elbert Foules.

Also unsigned are linebacker Rich Kraynak, defensive end Tom Strauthers and cornerback Andre Waters. Foules already has been given Edwards' starting job on the right side, while Strauthers is listed as a starter opposite Brown.

Will the signing of Reichenbach help bring the other free agents into the fold? "That's hard to say," Forte said. "Each player and negotiating session is a lot different."

Reichenbach was invited to the Eagles' camp in 1984 as a free agent and, although very impressive, was cut because of an abundance of linebackers. He was recalled Sept. 25 after Billy Cowher broke a leg and made his professional debut by making five special teams tackles against the Redskins in Washington.

He went on to lead the squad in special team tackles that year and won a starting job at inside linebacker a year ago when Jerry Robinson held out and eventually was traded. He also won the important task of calling defensive signals.

Ryan immediately gave him the same job when he succeeded Marion Campbell as head coach.

"Buddy showed confidence in me, and I want to live up to that confidence," Reichenbach said. "I'm glad we settled before training camp. It's time to play football."